4.00 4m. 2f. 74yds. 34 Declared. Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £1,000,000.00 7-y-o plus
1st - €500,000.00 2nd - €200,000.00 3rd - €100,000.00 4th - €65,000.00 5th - €40,000.00 6th - €30,000.00 7th - €20,000.00 8th - €15,000.00 9th - €10,000.00 10th - €5,000.00
Formscan - Last year's winner I Am Maximus heads a strong JP McManus squad with Iroko, Perceval Legallois and Meetingofthewaters other strong candidates in the famous green and gold silks. That said, an 8lb higher mark for t he former, combined with a preparation that hasn't completely gone to plan and his potential quirks, are enough to look elsewhere. Iroko has long been touted as the ideal Aintree type and warrants plenty of respect, despite the trip being a slight concern. Similar comments apply to Perceval Legallois, but the eight-year-old arrives at the top of his game after big handicap successes at Leopardstown. Intense Raffles won the Irish National last season and arrives following a fine effort in the Bobbyjo when just denied by Nick Rockett, but the reopposing fourth, MINELLA COCOONER, makes plenty of appeal. A sound jumper who won the bet365 Gold Cup on a decent surface at Sandown last April, that Fairyhouse effort was his best of the season and it appears he has been brought along steadily to peak on the big day. Stumptown (first) and Vanillier (third) further boost Gavin Cromwell's hopes following their efforts in the Cross Country at Cheltenham, while Hewick, Minella Indo and Hyland are others expected to prove popular.